Orville R. Nelson, age 92, of Sinai, died Tuesday, January 26, 2016, at the Golden Living Center in Arlington, South Dakota. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 30, 2016, at Sinai Lutheran Church, with interment in the West Sinai Lutheran Cemetery. Visitations will be from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings.

Orville Ronald Nelson was born August 7, 1923, in rural Sinai, Brookings County, South Dakota, to Detleph and Ella (Rensvold) Nelson. He was baptized by Pastor Oscar Johnson on September 23, 1923, at Sinai Lutheran Church. His godparents were Mr. and Mrs. Peter Thompson and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Nelson. Orville was confirmed June 13, 1937, at Sinai Lutheran by Pastor Nels Boe. He graduated from Sunnnyhill District School in Brookings County.

Orville served in WWII in the 174th as a military policeman and medical technician, and in the Korean Conflict as a medical technician. He married Evelyn Maher on February 26, 1950, at First Lutheran Church in Brookings.   He served as the Commander of Sinai American Legion Post No. 133 for several years and was Past Commander of the Brookings County American Legion. He was a member of George Dokken V.F.W. Post No. 2119, the Sinai Elevator board, Township Board for 38 years, and church council.

Orville was a good manager and a very capable farmer. He was known for his great kindness, hospitality, and honesty.

Orville is survived by a daughter, Irene (Tom) Wrenn of Grand Forks, ND; a son, Ron (Wanda) Nelson of Sinai; special family, Dan and Linda Nelson of Good Thunder, MN; five grandsons; fourteen great-grandchildren; and a brother, Allen (Bev) Nelson. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers: Ralph, Ray, and Wendell, sister, Mavis Royer, and his wife, Evelyn, on April 21, 2009.